2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid Photos

For the first time ever, Toyota will offer the Corolla sedan with a hybrid powertrain in the United States. The hybrid is based on the all-new 2020 Corolla sedan, which is making its debut at the Los Angeles auto show alongside the hybrid. It's frankly surprising that it has taken this long for a Corolla hybrid to appear in the States-the Corolla is the world's top-selling nameplate, and hybrid Corollas have been offered in other markets for years.

The Corolla hybrid uses the same Hybrid Synergy Drive system as the current Prius; that means a power-split transaxle incorporating two motor/generators, coupled to an Atkinson-cycle 1.8-liter inline-four and paired electronically with a nickel-metal hydride battery pack.

Like the Prius, the Corolla has a combined output of 121 horsepower, and like the Prius, the Corolla is front-wheel drive.

Toyota doesn't give any performance figures, apart from saying that the Corolla hybrid's acceleration "may take some by surprise." We hope that's true, since the Prius took a laggardly 10.5 seconds to hit 60 mph in our testing.

The Corolla hybrid has Normal, Eco, and Sport driving modes, with each affecting the response of the powertrain.

There is also an EV mode that allows electric operation over short distances. Also part of the package is what Toyota calls an electronically controlled brake system, which manages the handoff between the regenerative braking and the conventional friction brakes, maximizing fuel economy and smoothing operation.

As with any hybrid, the biggest selling point of this Corolla is fuel economy. Toyota estimates that the Corolla hybrid will get more than 50 mpg combined, which would make it one of the most fuel-efficient cars on sale.

It's the first time a Corolla hybrid has ever been offered in the United States.

To distinguish itself from regular Corollas, the hybrid sedan gets its own 15-inch aluminum wheels and special badging, but aside from that, it looks the same as the standard model.

Standard on every Corolla hybrid is Toyota's Safety Sense 2.0 package, which includes automated emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control with low-speed functionality, a lane-centering system, lane-departure warning with steering assist, road-sign recognition, and automatic high-beams.